In Caldrin, Hester knew nothing of Venn’s defeat.
On day1653, the newest eastern packet available to her still described work completed before Mara reached Rootwell. Roads, shelter holds, and the time a carrier spent waiting for a safe turn stood between the two places. The city could not borrow a victory it had not heard about.
It had its own weather to read.
The upper heat gauge had begun a wider daily swing. The mixed grid could carry the current demand, but its reserve shrank during the hottest industrial turn. Hester watched the morning trace with the pump forewoman and the culture keeper.
The culture keeper put a blunt finger on the peak.
“Not through my beds.”
“No,” Hester said.
“We need that on the turn sheet.”
